The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-08
LEGISLATIVE PROSPECTS.
Not Law of Importance Enacted and
the Session More than Half Finished.
Democrats Opposed to Non-Partisan Manage
ment of the Public Institutions-Minor
Matters Disposed of on Reports.


more than half it's term without accomplishing
nything in the way of important legislation
Not single act affecting the people of the State
at large, unless it be the appropriation OF $l2o.-
DOC to pay the expenses Of the legislature mas
been passed. Excepting this, the work accom-
plished thus far is confined to legalizing and re-
lief acts, of which the list is for fixing the time
for holding courts In the Fourth, twelfth
Forty frst and Forty ninth judicial circuits, ie-
CALLING the incorporation of the town OF Bos-
well. and for the relief of Samuel Dickinson and
Nathan P. Gilliat. The Governor has approved
these acts, but two more of like character re-
main with him. Any bill Of significance that
passes the House with the purpose of amending
or adding to the general laws of the State is sent
to the Senate. where it remains pigeon-holed,
Tor it is very likely bills of the same character
are pending on the Senate calendar 1t is the
purpose of the majority in that body to do its
own legislation and send it to the
House. whore the same rule prevails
There are many bills in both houses
Of not only similar purpose, but in several
instances of almost the same phraseology. So
many measures are thus locked together that it
is hard to believe accident or coincidence alone
caused it. There appears to be design in OBJ
structine needed legislation by this means An
illustration will serve. Through Senator Bailey
and others the committees have been loaded
down with bills which they pretended were in
troduced at the request of organized working
men. Among these was the Barrett bill, passed
by the Senate last week Before 1t got back
from the committee, the House had passed Mr..
Jewett's bill Of like purport When that reached
the Senate 1t was held in allegiance until the com
ittee on labor was ready to report on the Barrett
rett measure The two were taken up with pur
pose Of carrying them together. but both went
to q special committee, which slightly amended
the Barrett bill and tore that of Mr.. Jewett's to
pieces from the enactirg clause to the last para
graph 1t is, in substance, a new measure and
both will come to the House in that shape,
where they will again 60 through
the hands Of committee. Early in
the session Mr.. Covset introduced
bill to repeal what are called the intimidation
acts 1t went to the committee ON labor To
District this the Democratic Senate had bill
of the same character hurried through its labor
COR psttee. and then to second reading.
discussion was had it, and il waits final
action. OF measures to create State library
board there are several, and none of them have
been considered. While they are nearly alike
they cannot avoid collision There is boiler
and building inspectors bill in each house. and
80 on. The list could be lengthened until it was
shown that many of the measures regarded as
important have their duplicates and sometimes
duplicates 1t is possible that in this conflict of
ideas and measures the time of the session will
be exhausted without having any. work of i'm
portance performed There is talk of the prob
abilities of a special session. but it belongs to
gossip rather than to any fixed design to bring
It around
cd mad Fri dow III
day morning at ii o'clock, but that hour saw no
quorum and a further adjournment had
until the afternoon, when the Jewett bill regu
1ating the transportation of property by railroad
companies was called I'D as unfinished business
and passed, Representative Jewett speaking at
some length in its favor. There were but three
negative votes-Briant, Commons and McCrea.
Representative Crosses bill providing better
management for the insane asylums, and insti-
tutions for the deaf and dumb, and blind, came
back from the committee on benevolent institu-
tions with two reports. that of the majority
favoring tine bill providing for the appointment
by the Governor, with the consent of the. Senate,
Of three trustees for each of the four insane
asylums. and three for each of the other institu-
tions named Or each board of trustees two are
to be of opposite political affiliations, and one a
woman. The trustees to be paid
$500 each. with the actual travelling ex-
penses. Representative Gordon presented
q minority report recommending that the
insane asylums be under the control of
and blind institutions under of three 1t
is provided that these shall be appointed by the
Governor with the consent OF the Senate, and
the compensation for each is fixed at 5000, with
actual travelling expenses limited to $780, The
minority report. signed by all the Democratic
members of the committee except Representa-
tive Roberts, who is with the majority in this
measure makes no provision for non-partisan
boards Representative Gordon said the Gov
ernor alone ought to be responsible for these
institutions and he should to be left without re-
strictions. He did not believe in a political di-
vision of these boards, nor was 1t necessary to
These matters ought to be left to the DISCRETION
of the Governor. Representative Grose
believed the Gordon theory would per-
NIT corruption in these institutions to
Legislature were of the same party faith, no in
vestigation could be had. The minority wants
the Governor to appoint all the trustees
of his own political party 1t would be done.
is left unrestricted. He referred to the Soldiers
Orphan Home as an example of what non
partisan board could do. The management OF
that institution is one to be commended, and il
{s upheld by the people of the State. Under
the minority theory, the scandals that prevailed
during the last campaign would continue Rep.
resertative Roberts knew that the people of the
State asked for non-partsan manage ment oil
the institutions He told his people during the
campaign that if they expected him to come
here and vote for a partisan control Of
ahe public institutions they could send
some other person. He would resign before he
would support any other position. Representa-
tive Patton made a Characteristic speech in be
half of the Democratic party, which had pro
ducsd inestimabe blessings on the State, while
the Republicans had brought about nothing bu
corruption He violently opposed to any re
strictions that would keep the boards from be
ing thoroughly Democratic. Representative
Stubbleheld met the Sullivan county contingent
on his own ground and mercilessly pictured the
acts of the Democracy from the time it was
party up to date. after we defeated you," h,
continued, you claimed there was no vacancy
in the lieutenant govornorship, and then, b,
high handed acts supported In that seat usurpe
who is better adapted for steamboat mate
Now you arraign the Republican party TO
trampiing on laws Why, you never had gov
eminent until the Republicans gave it to you.
Pending action on the motion to substitute tn